Moon cake treats for Beijing Zoo animals

A giant panda is fed moon cake at Beijing Zoo on October 4, 2017. [Photo: Beijing Evening News]

Animals in Beijing Zoo have been enjoying specially made moon cakes as a Mid-Autumn Festival treat.

The festival this year fell on October 4, which is also World Animal Day, reports the Beijing Morning Post.

It's the first time every animal in the zoo was given the treat, so long as they fitted in with their normal dietary needs.

Two ring-tailed lemurs lick a moon cake being held by a feeder at Beijing Zoo on October 4, 2017. [Photo: Beijing Evening News]

The moon cakes were made with bean flour dough filled with a variety of ingredients, including sesame, peanuts, sunflower seeds and raisins.

High-calorie ingredients such as sugar and eggs were also added to the moon cakes to protect primates from the cold.

The zoo has prepared a total of 30 kilograms of moon cakes for the ring-tailed lemurs, pandas, elephants and other animals.